Dahlia plant named ‘HDSC18’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘HDSC18’, characterized by its compact, mounding and dense plant habit; dentate to crenate dark-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; daisy-type inflorescence form; large inflorescences with scarlet red-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HDSC18’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘HDSC18’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Lisse, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new compact container Dahlia plantswith dark-colored leaves, large inflorescences and good postproductionlongevity.

The new Dahlia plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted bythe Inventor in Lisse, The Netherlands in 2008 of Dahlia hybrida‘HDPU165’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,299, as the female, orseed, parent with Dahlia hybrida ‘VD5-279’, not patented, as the male,or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inLisse, The Netherlands during the summer of 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by cuttings since thespring of 2010 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lisse, TheNetherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘HDSC18’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘HDSC18’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and dense plant habit.    -   2. Dentate to crenate dark-colored leaves.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Daisy-type inflorescence form.    -   5. Large inflorescences with scarlet red-colored ray florets.    -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘HDPU165’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘HDPU165’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Dahlia are not as dark in color        as leaves of plants of ‘HDPU165’.    -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent        selection have red purple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘VD5-279’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are more compact than plants of        ‘VD5-279’.    -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia flower for a longer period of time        than plants of ‘VD5-279’.    -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia are stronger and less susceptible to        pathogens than plants of ‘VD5-279’.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of the Dahlia hybrida‘HDCHR23’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,140. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Lisse, The Netherlands, plants of the newDahlia differed from plants of ‘HDCHR23’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia flowered ten days earlier than        plants of ‘HDCHR23’.    -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and ‘HDCHR23’ differed in ray color        as plants of ‘HDCHR23’ have red purple-colored ray florets.    -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Dahlia were larger than ray        florets of plants of ‘HDCHR23’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘HDSC18’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘HDSC18’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations and measurements describeplants grown during the late summer and early autumn in 15-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Lisse, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial container Dahlia production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 30° C.and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. Plants were pinchedone time about three weeks after planting. Plants were three months oldwhen the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘HDSC18’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Dahlia hybrida ‘HDPU165’, disclosed            in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,299.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Dahlia hybrida ‘VD5-279’, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About eleven days at soil            temperatures about 15° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 13 days at soil            temperatures about 15° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 22 days            at soil temperatures about 15° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days            at soil temperatures about 15° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; dense.        -   Tubers.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About 15 cm. Texture:            Corky. Color: Close to 199B.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounding plant habit;            inverted triangular plant form; freely basal branching with            about eight lateral branches developing per plant; dense and            bushy appearance; inflorescences held above the foliar plane            on strong peduncles; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 25 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 23 cm. Diameter: About            1.8 cm. Internode length: About 5 cm to 15 cm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 187A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, single or compound with three or five            leaflets per leaf        -   Leaf length.—About 7 cm to 18 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 4 cm to 13 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Dentate to crenate; sinuses divergent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 200A; venation, close to 187A. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,            close to 187B, proximally, close to 183B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 cm to 7 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: Close to 187A. Color, lower surface: Close to            187B; proximally, close to 183B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Daisy-type inflorescences            with ray and disc florets developing acropetally on a            receptacle; inflorescences positioned above and beyond the            foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face mostly            upright; freely flowering habit with typically about 40            inflorescences developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit; plants begin            flowering about 60 days after planting; flowering continuous            during the summer and autumn in The Netherlands.        -   Post-production longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;            inflorescences maintain good substance for about twelve days            on the plant and for about five days as a cut flower;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About            1.9 cm. Shape: Oblate. Color: Close to 153A; towards the            apex, close to 60A; towards the base, close to 146A.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8.9 cm.        -   Inflorescence depth (height).—About 2.1 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—About 2 cm.        -   Receptacle height.—About 1 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—About 1.6 cm.        -   Receptacle color.—Close to 146A.        -   Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About            eight arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 3.9 cm.            Width: About 2.6 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex:            Mucronulate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect:            Initially upright to roughly perpendicular to the peduncle.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 46A.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 46A; towards the            margins, close to 46B. Fully opened, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 46A; color does not fade with            development.        -   Disc florets.—Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            About 80. Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape:            Tubular; apex dentate. Color, immature: Apex: Close to 183A.            Mid-section: Close to 183B. Base: Close to 2C. Color,            mature: Apex: Close to 21A. Mid-section: Close to 183B.            Base: Close to 2D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About five arranged            in a single whorl. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 6 mm.            Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: Close to 200A. Color, lower surface: Close to            147A tinged with close to 200A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 25 cm. Length,            fourth peduncle: About 14 cm. Length, seventh peduncle:            About 6 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm. Strength: Strong.            Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets            only: Quantity per disc floret: Five. Filament length: About            4 mm. Filament color: Close to 2C. Anther shape: Lanceolate.            Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 15A.            Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 21A.            Gynoecium, present on ray and disc florets: Quantity per            floret: One. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape:            Lanceolate. Stigma color: Close to 12B. Style length: About            5 mm. Style color: Close to 150C. Ovary color: Close to            150D. Fruits: Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.9 cm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 187B. Seeds:            Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: Close to            187B.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been    shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Dahlia have exhibited good    tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerate    temperatures from about 0° C. to about 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘HDSC18’ asillustrated and described.